Which US games can be played on UK hardware?

[hotwinduk]

Greetings all,

My work takes my to the US several times a year.

The Pound/Dollar exchange rate is very favourable. We in the UK get around 1.90 US dollars per pound.

I would like to buy some PC games in the US, but doing a Google search didn't turn up any info with regard to whether or not you can play them in the UK.

I don't see why they can't be played on a PC in the UK unless they can have a look at the version of Windows being used and then refuse to play unless it is a US version.

So, can anyone enlighten me in this regard?

And what is the state of play with the other gaming platforms, because I want to buy my kids and their cousins some PS2 and GameCube games.

[gringo]

Hi Hotwinduk

Games for the PC will be no problem, games for the PS2 will not work on a european PS2 because the American games are not PAL. (can't remember the american system)

I don't know about Gamecube games.

[hotwinduk]

Thank you, Gringo.

I found this link about GameCube. Apparently you have to trick it into playing games foreign to the UK:

Action Replay GameCube:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006FRDA/026-4797321-4809229S

[gringo]

I do know that if you have a PS2 or Xbox there are chips which make it possible to play all types of media.

I don't have any experience myself, but that might be an option.

You could try googleing it to find out what it involves, or maybe some of the guys out there know more about it.

[hotwinduk]

Thanks, Gringo.

I think I'll buy a US PS2 console along with the games just in case US games don't work on a UK console.

If I can use a UK console, I'll sell the US one on eBay.

[fishybawb]

Remember that the voltages are different - 240V over here and 110/120V in the US, so you'll need one of those step-down transformers, or whatever the proper name is. Plus you'll need a multi-region TV to handle the American NTSC signal.

[hotwinduk]

Thanks, fishybawb.

I've changed my mind.

I'll be sticking to UK games.